Retrato Falado

Short-lived crime series starring Jennifer O'Neill and Jon Eric Hexum

Although this crime series, broadcast by the American television station CBS, was only broadcast on the German television station RTL PLUS from July 13, 1991, it was already in the headlines around the world at the time of its first American broadcast (October 1984). The reason was that the young and very talented leading actor Jon Eric HEXUM (1957-1984) injured himself so badly while fooling around with an accidentally loaded pistol from the film prop on October 12, 1984 that he was declared brain dead six days later. His organs were removed from the body and forwarded to appropriate organ recipients. This terrible misfortune abruptly ended the life of a promising television star.

The series itself started on American television on September 22, 1984 and was conceived as a conventional crime series that was intended to combine mysterious crimes with the sophisticated world of beautiful models. After the sudden death of her husband, the attractive fashion photographer Danielle Reynolds (Jennifer O'NEILL, known from RIO LOBO and SETTE NOTE IN NERO) learns that he was also active as an agent for the American state. After an initial shock, she and his partner Mac Harper (Jon Eric HEXUM), who is now responsible for the fights and shootings, take over her late husband's job. On behalf of their "executive officer" Henry Towler (Richard ANDERSON), Dani and Mac now travel the world as fashion photographers and solve cases that arise wherever they are. It's a good thing that the strapping Mac is not only a tough fighter, but also looks damn good. This way he can model while Dani takes the photos. In tow, the two of them have a group of several beautiful female models (including Dana SPARKS), who cause additional trouble with their fun-loving inexperience. The cases are mostly rather banal, in the tradition of the series RIPTIDE with Perry KING and Joe PENNY. After the tragic death of HEXUM (his last episode (the seventh) was broadcast on November 3rd, 1984), his character in the series was also declared dead and replaced by Antony HAMILTON as Jack Striker (from the episode of November 24th, 1984). The American television business was changed so quickly and brutally. It wasn't of much use: the series was canceled after one season.

The year before, Jon Eric HEXUM, an American of Norwegian descent, had become known throughout the country for his title role in the television film MAKING OF A MALE MODEL. In this "Movie of the Week" he played a good-looking outdoorsman who is immediately hired by an influential agency boss (Joan COLLINS, then famous worldwide as the beast Alexis from the television series DYNASTY) and groomed to become a male super model. This gave the ambitious and very talented Jon Eric HEXUM the image of the male sex symbol, which was probably inevitable given his dazzling looks. In the new series he was not only able to be the masculine, striking womanizer, but also prove his qualities as a fighter and action star. Unfortunately that didn't last too long.

Dana SPARKS, born in 1961, can be seen here as one of the traveling models in her first (television) role. Two years later, she became a FALCON CREST star from 1986 to 1988 when she took on the role of Vickie Gioberti, who returned to Tuscany Valley after several years in New York City. From 1981 to 1983 the role was played by the charming Jamie ROSE. One of the first storylines that Dana SPARKS had to play as Vickie Gioberti was that she unwittingly began an affair with Jeff Wainwright (Edward ALBERT), the man who had recently kidnapped and raped her mother Maggie Gioberti (Susan SULLIVAN). That's how crude things were back then in the prime time soaps of the 1980s. And in German-speaking countries it was on the evening's program! :-)

Other guest stars in the series COVER UP were: John BECK (Flamingo Road), Tia CARRERE (True Lies), Bryan CRANSTON (Breaking Bad), Mary CROSBY (Dallas), Louis JOURDAN (Gigi), George LAZENBY (James Bond), Wolf ROTH (The Guldenburg Legacy), Heather THOMAS (The Fall Guy), Sheree J. WILSON (Dallas, Walker Texas Ranger).

When I was a kid, I was a fan of Jon-Erik Hexum, mainly because of his show "Voyager", so I became a fan of his new show "Cover-Up", it was not Shakespeare and it could have been better but it was fun to watch, a kind of James Bond fantasy show. It was exiting, and the show did his job: entertain boys and get girls (and the mothers of some kids) in love with Jon-Erik Hexum. I was shocked to hear that the "Jon" was "playing" with a "blank semi loaded" gun and shot himself. What was he thinking!? well not much obviously!! This 26 years old man, considered on of the most photogenic men in Hollywood, still almost 20 years later, it is hard to find an actor (good actor) with his good look and great body, the man was a Greek sculpture. He had every thing to become a big screen superstar. He made just one mistake, to treat guns like toys, one thing a I leaned since very young "GUN ARE ALWAYS LOADED, EVEN IF THEY ARE EMPTY", an empty gun should be treated as the most dangerous weapon; as a fact many "accident" (the correct word is criminal negligence)are caused by guns that were supposed to be empty. I feel sorry for Jon and his family, but it would have been worst if he had aimed the gun to an innocent bystander. He lost his live, present and future. He stole happiness from himself.

I seldom give a 10 on a review, but this series was absolutely great, in my humble opinion. The music is first-rate as well. Watching the episode where Dani is told Mac is not coming back was so poignant, there is no doubt that a bond existed between all the players. Jon-Erik's tragic demise truly hit them hard. They wrote his death into the script with grace and respect, almost reverence. I've been lucky enough to get an entire set of the show on DVD, so I am truly blessed. Jennifer O'Neill is stunningly beautiful and it is a shame we have not seen more of her in recent years. I am a fan of Richard Anderson as well, and he played his role convincingly with dignity and gentleness.

I certainly don't have fond memories of this series.

It was pretty cheesey back in 1985 when I first saw it. Jennifer O'Neal was as wooden in it as she was in most of her other roles, Including 'Scanners', but only Michael Ironside was really good in that movie.

This seemed to be a cross between Charlie's Angels and Remmington Steele, but wasn't as watchable as either series. It's also infamous and memorable to some, because one of it's stars Jon Erik Hexum, was playing around with a prop pistol loaded with blanks, put it to his head, and fired. Without knowing that blanks can actually kill because there is still a discharge from the weapon when fired.

Attempting to help the Wright brothers, Phineas, our intrepid, if clumsy, traveler-in-time deeply contemplates running off a cliff edge with a glider --to test aerodynamic designs. Does he correctly comprehend the aerodynamic forces involved? His fellow traveler Jeffrey is worried, running after him, yelling, "You can't...it's suicide!...Bogg!". But Phineas will not be stopped, and, leaping off the cliff, admonishes young Jeffrey, "I'm a Voyager kid! Sometimes you've got to bite the bullet." Alas, Phineas crashes, --not comprehending the aerodynamic forces involved. Phineas is next seen lying deathly still on the ground, Jeffrey rushing to him crying, "Bogg!". Phineas will regain consciousness, of course, and all will be well, of course. This scene is in episode one, and part of it is used in the opening sequence for every episode of "Voyagers!".

About two years later, on the set of "Cover Up"...

Jon-Eric Hexum, Phineas Bogg of an earlier time, and a highly intelligent man, will foolishly point a prop gun, loaded with blanks, to his head and jokingly pull the trigger. And with this bullet, so unnecessary to bite, Mr. Jon-Eric Hexum proved he still had not learned aerodynamics, this time of exploding gases, so powerful...even poignant.